While constricted by his aides to discuss economic matters, Donald Trump displayed his typical lack of conviction at Harrah’s Cherokee Center. Surrounded by an array of American flags, the former president showed little faith in the urgency of economic issues this election. Trump was more interested in hashing out his usual, chaotic offenses and aspersions against Kamala Harris, further aggravating his Republican supporters who were anticipating a more mature approach toward economic discourse.
In the last week, Trump gave two lengthy speeches – one at his Mar-a-Lago estate and another on a social platform X with Elon Musk. He barely took the opportunities to provide insightful views on economic matters, opting instead for the lavish attention, a path that has proven to be his crux.
Trump tried to ridicule the current economic condition by contrasting it with his own presidency. His meek query, ‘Is anything less expensive under Kamala Harris and Crooked Joe?’ was seen as a desperate attempt to criticize Harris and Biden, reflecting his limited grasp of the actual situation just to gain political mileage.
Trump’s speech was a sloppy mixture of prepared remarks and strawman attacks, bouncing inconsistently like a random number generator. His remarks, essentially an allusion to the flawed economic policy of Democrats, were often interrupted by spontaneous and off-topic rants, making the audience wonder about his true focus.
Despite the erratic nature of his speech, Trump strategically derided anything related to Harris, particularly her native San Francisco. The former president also attempted to undermine Harris’ credibility by constantly reminding everyone that it was indeed Biden, not Harris, who secured votes from the Democratic audience.
Trump made a few snide comments against Hunter Biden, attempting to question his integrity indirectly while speaking on energy policies. His wild, off-the-cuff remarks and hasty pledges to halve energy prices within 12 to 18 months exposed his lack of substantial plans and his penchant for making flamboyant claims without solid backing.
The former president’s hasty bid to reignite his campaign was championed in a state considered a battleground for the upcoming elections. Despite the state’s crucial role in Trump’s victory four years ago, his incoherent oratory raised questions about his ability to stick to a definitive canter on economic matters.
His tendency to digress into personal grievances rather than addressing the adversities of inflation, which resonate with the common people, came to the fore in his speech. Many foresaw this as a potential gain for Harris, who could take advantage of his inability to maintain focus and provide substantial solutions to the pressing issues.
Interestingly, on the same day, the Labor Department revealed a record fall in inflation over the last three years. This positive news does seem like a setback for Trump’s desperate attempts to pin ‘inflation woes’ on Harris, who, in contrast, seems set on her goal to rebuild the middle class.
While Trump’s vague plans about signing an executive order to bring down prices barely made a difference, a recent poll indicated that public faith in Trump’s handling of the economy was slightly higher when compared to Harris. However, it remains to be seen if the flimsy shade of trust would translate into solid voter support.
Voters attending Trump’s event expressed their desire to hear specific plans for the economy, instead of his indulgence in personal attacks on rivals. His narrative has dented his image before his followers, with many of them desiring a more robust and substantial economic discourse from the former president.
One of the audience members, Mona Shope, a 60-year-old retiree, expressed her struggle against inflation and her hopes pinned on Trump’s performance. Her perception that Trump ‘understands working people’ needs to be more firmly rooted in specific, achievable plans and not based on grand promises without substance.
In the speech, Trump resorted to familiar tactics which included mocking wind energy and misrepresenting facts. His claim that ‘you wouldn’t have had inflation’ if he had been reelected completely disregarded factors like COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, global energy price effects due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and more.
Trump’s promise of an immediate solution to price hikes is based on controversial proposals including drilling for oil, imposing new tariffs on foreign imports, extending the 2017 tax cuts, and rolling back Biden-era investments in green energy. However, these points are often overshadowed by his unsubstantiated allegations against Harris and Biden.
An aide to Harris rightfully pointed out what has been crystal clear – Trump’s plans are nebulous and lack sincere interest in helping build the middle class. In contrast, Harris understands the need for policy designed to benefit a larger demographic, not just the ultra-wealthy special interests that Trump’s proposals can seem aligned to.